A Collaboration with the HBCU CHIPS Network to Advance Semiconductor Research and Education
The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded $2 million to Clark Atlanta University (CAU) to lead a collaborative effort with the HBCU CHIPS Network. The HBCU CHIPS Network is a partnership between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), government agencies, academia, and industry, which will serve as a national resource for semiconductor research and education.
“Clark Atlanta University is honored to receive this $2 million award from the National Science Foundation for the HBCU CHIPS network,” states Dr. Charlene D. Gilbert, senior vice president and provost at Clark Atlanta University. “This initiative highlights our research strengths and talents and positions us to significantly contribute to national priorities in semiconductor research, production and education. We are excited to be part of the national effort to mobilize the research capacity of our HBCUs, fostering innovation and excellence in our communities.”
As the principal investigator and lead institution, CAU will administer and manage this two-year project to establish the administrative infrastructure and protocols needed to integrate the Network’s institutions into the national semiconductor R&D and workforce development activities. This includes developing shared facility protocols to leverage the collective capabilities of the member institutions.
“The HBCU CHIPS Network will allow researchers to advance the microelectronics field by leveraging collective research expertise, facilities, and educational resources at HBCUs,” said Dr. Frances Williams, Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs at CAU and principal investigator. “The CHIPS Network will support investigators in providing innovative solutions to the design and fabrication of microchips in collaboration with industry partners.”
The project will also facilitate virtual and in-person meetings, seminars, and an electronic database to connect students with internship and experiential learning opportunities in the semiconductor field. Additionally, the Network will conduct a multi-institutional research effort to design and fabricate an integrated microelectronic system, addressing packaging and reliability challenges.
Key partner institutions in this research include:
- Alabama A&M University will develop thermoelectric materials and integrated power/cooling devices.
- Delaware State University will optimize 2D-3D material integration.
- Georgia Institute of Technology will optimize chip-to-system packaging.
- Jackson State University and North Carolina A&T State University will develop 2D semiconductor devices and optoelectronics.
- Norfolk State University will develop semiconductor packaging using polymer and boron nitride composites.
- North Carolina A&T State University will work on heterogeneous packaging integration.
The HBCU CHIPS Network aims to cultivate a diverse and skilled workforce to support the national semiconductor industry. The student research, internships, and specialized curriculum development in semiconductor design, fabrication, and related fields will expand the microelectronics workforce.
For more information about the HBCU CHIPS Network and its activities, please contact Dr. Frances Williams at (404) 880-6990 or email fwilliams@cau.edu.
About Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with nearly 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium. It is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.